Rodney Figueroa hired as Maui High football coach

KAHULUI — Maui High School has hired 16-year veteran Maui Interscholastic League assistant Rodney Figueroa as its head football coach, Figueroa confirmed this morning.

“It feels good, it was a process, they were thorough, they wanted to make sure they picked the right coach,” Figueroa said. “I give it up to them, to Maui High, to (principal Jamie) Yap, to (athletic director Mike) Ban, the people who were on the board. I think it was 14 candidates. To beat out 14 guys, that’s an accomplishment.”

Figueroa is a 1983 Baldwin graduate who was on Curtis Lee’s staff at Maui High from 2000 to 2004, then coached under Jimmy Morimoto at Baldwin from 2005 to 2013. He coached at Maui High during the 2014 season before joining the Baldwin staff for 2015 and 2016.

Figueroa takes over the Sabers’ program from Keith Shirota, who stepped down earlier this month after two seasons at the helm. Spring practice starts in May.

“I’m excited, they got good kids there, they have the talent,” Figueroa said. “It’s getting in there and starting to work.”

In a press release from the school, Ban said, “Coach Figueroa is an experienced football coach and an outstanding member of our community who will help build a successful football program. We are very impressed by his philosophy on football and his desire to help our student athletes to be successful on and off the field. We are truly excited about the upcoming season.”